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Use of Urban Refuse Magnetic Fractions for Steelmaking.

A study was conducted by the Bureau of Mines to determine problems associated with the use of magnetic fractions from urban refuse as melting stock for steelmaking and to evaluate the resulting steel products. The study involved 50-lb (22.7 Kg) ingots from laboratory melts and 50-lb ingots from 1-ton (907 kg) electric-arc-furnace melts. The ingots were hot-rolled to provide material for mechanical and corrosion testing. Results obtained in the study include the following: most steels rolled successfully and exhibited acceptable surface and edge conditions. Tensile strengths of the plain carbon steels were not significantly affected by copper up to concentrations of 0.65 pct and were not affected by tin content up to 0.16 pct. Yield strength increased with increasing copper and tin contents and impact strength decreased with increasing tin content. Hardness increased slightly with increasing copper content. In general, properties of the steel produced were not measurably affected by charge composition, melting practice, or method of scrap preparation.